DE102007042038A1 - Navigation device and method for operating a navigation device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a navigation device (1) comprising - an input device to which operator commands and / or location information, in particular start points and / or destination points, can be input, - a route network database, - a route calculation unit for calculating a planned route taking into account the location information and the path network database, the route leading from the starting point to the destination point, a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, in particular GPS signals, a position determining unit which determines the current position from the position signals, at least one optical display device, the navigation device (1) an editable image database comprises, in which provided for display on the display device image files (7) can be managed user defined. The invention further relates to a method for operating a navigation device.

Description

The The invention relates to a navigation device according to the preamble of the claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for operating a navigation device according to the preamble of the independent Method claim.

Generic navigation devices in particular, but by no means exclusively, used in vehicles to take the driver from one starting point to another Destination point. There are mobile navigation devices and fixed navigation devices known. Using a route network database, a route calculation unit is used Calculates a route that leads from the starting point to the destination point. through a signal receiving unit are position signals, in particular GPS signals, received and from this in a position determination unit, the current position certainly. A display device, for example a flat-screen display, then serves for visual display of the route or for display of user menus.

Known navigation devices are preconfigured by the manufacturer, so their appearance for all users is equal to. An individual adaptation of the appearance is in known navigation devices not possible. In this respect, the user can not see the appearance of the navigation device on his individual wishes and tune preferences.

outgoing From this prior art, it is therefore an object of the present Invention to propose a new navigation device, its appearance individually to the needs individual user can be tailored. It's up to you to continue of the present invention, a corresponding method of operation to propose a navigation system.

These Tasks are performed by a navigation device or by a procedure according to the teaching of the two independent all claims solved.

advantageous embodiments The invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

basic idea The invention is that in the navigation device an editable image database is provided. In this image database the user can search for his own To wish Manage image files, in particular save. The ones contained in the image database Image files with the image content contained therein can then be used to customize the appearance of the navigation device. By suitable program call the picture contents from the Image files from the navigation device programmatically read and displayed on the display device become. There are many possibilities to customize the appearance of the navigation device under Use of individually managed image files. After a preferred embodiment is provided that the image database part of an address database is or is linked to an address database. Individual addresses in the address database can then custom image file be assigned. Will while the operation of the navigation device accessed an address that contains a custom image file is assigned, the image content of this image file accordingly are displayed.

Around To reduce the number of image files to be stored, you can set in the address database address groups are formed. All addresses the same address group will then become a custom image file assigned together. For example, all the locations of a company can have one Form address group, wherein all addresses of this address group the common corporate icon is assigned as an image file.

Which Type of image content in the image files stored in the image database is included is basically any. A particularly high recognition value and a corresponding high individualization contain image files in which photographs, especially photographs of buildings and people stored are. For example, it is possible to an address the picture of the building at the address, For example, a church or a company headquarters store. Also can Portraits or other person photographs to specific addresses get saved.

Not only the assignment of image files to specific addresses is special meaningful. According to one second variant can also certain display functions of the navigation device to redesign the user individually. This will be certain Display functions of the navigation device with user-defined Linked image files. As soon as the display function is called programmatically, the corresponding image file displayed on the display device. at such individualized display functions may be for example to act on buttons or buttons.

In particular, for the individual design of display functions, but by no means exclusively, the use of schematisier th image graphics is advantageous. Such schematized image graphics, which are also referred to as icons, can be stored as image files in the image database and, for example, a specific An be assigned to the display function. Of course, it is also possible to associate such schematized image graphics with other functional elements as well, for example an address from an address database.

From greater Meaning of The appearance of a navigation device is the display function to display the current position of a vehicle. This display function becomes common realized by a schematic arrow symbol, this arrow symbol at the current position of the vehicle in one of the display device displayed map is displayed. To this for the appearance of the navigation device to customize important display function, it is suggested at the location of the current position of the vehicle one in the image database saved, custom image file. At this Image file may be in particular a correspondingly suitable Act vehicle icon. The different vehicle manufacturers have the option of using individualized vehicle icons The built in their vehicles navigation devices type specific to their Vehicle types to vote.

at Storage of a larger number of image files in the image database is the provision from a correspondingly large one Storage space necessary. To the size of the storage space individually to the needs to vote the user, It is therefore particularly advantageous if the image files on a Removable storage medium, especially on a removable memory card, are stored. This preserves the user the option by replacing the removable storage medium made available Increase storage space accordingly.

The inventive method is characterized in that image files in an editable Image database of the navigation device be saved by the user and after calling the image file the content of the image file programmatically on the display device is shown. As a result, it is possible for the user to store individualized image content on the navigation device, this being Image content from the navigation device automatically according to the preprogrammed program sequence the image database are retrieved and displayed.

Has been associate an image file with an address from an address database, Thus, according to a first preferred variant of the method, it is provided that upon insertion of a map section on the display device, which includes an address with associated image file, at the position the address of the image content of the associated image file displayed becomes. As a result leads this in that when routing the user always individual image content from the image database displayed when card contents with addresses that individual Image files are assigned. A sales representative thus has, for example, the possibility at the locations of its customers the respective company logo of the customers to be shown.

According to one second method variant for the shortcut image files with addresses from an address database are provided, that when displaying selection menus, the addresses with associated image file include, at the location the address of the associated image file is displayed. For example can take place when displaying destinations that have already been approached the respective address an image alternatively or additive displayed to make the selection easier for the user.

Around the user the assignment of image files to addresses from the address database To facilitate, it is particularly advantageous if when investing a new address to be stored in the address database with a list all available Image files is displayed. By simply selecting one Image file can then be assigned to the address then an image file.

Depending on display scale and the size of the display device is the display of image files associated with individual addresses not always useful or must the image size meaningful to the available Screen size matched become. In order to make this possible, can assign an image file priority value to each image file become. Once the image content of the corresponding image file is displayed is to be, the representation of the image file, in particular the Image size of the displayed Image file, depending from the scale of the map section and dependent from the image file priority value changed. Image files with a high image file priority value are preferred and shown as larger, whereas image files of smaller image file priority value are downsized will or will not be displayed.

Around load the image files in a simple way on the navigation device to be able to it is particularly advantageous to have a data connection to a database, For example, to create an Internet server. In this way can size Image files or large Image databases easily downloaded to the navigation device and stored there.

According to a further variant of the method, it is provided that also individual locations pre-stored in the path network database, in particular so points of interest (POI), an image file is assigned. For example, a famous monument, z. B. the Cologne Cathedral, be associated with a picture of the monument.

Especially simply the assignment of image files to in the path network database Pre-stored places can be achieved by having one stored prestored location as a new address in an address database being, wherein when storing the prestored location in the address database in each case an association with an image file is created.

Around Problems with too big Exclude image files, can change the size of the image file during storage and / or assignment to an address or display function be checked programmatically.

Becomes in the review of Size of the image file an overrun determined a predefined maximum size, can exclude the storage or assignment of the image file and then, for example, issued a corresponding error message become.

alternative this can happen when exceeded the predefined maximum size, too an automatic reduction of the image file, for example by appropriate Scaling the image file to be made.

Various Aspects of the invention are shown schematically in the drawings and are explained below by way of example.

It demonstrate:

1 the display device of a navigation device when editing the address database with assignment of an image file to an address;

2 the display device according to 1 when a map is displayed with the according to 1 edited address.

1 schematically shows the display device of a navigation device 1 when editing an address database. In 1 the storage of a new address is shown in the address book. For each address book entry, there is an on-screen index card in which all data of the respective address can be entered and modified. In a first address field 2 the name of the destination, the street of the destination, the city of the destination and an associated telephone number can be entered and saved.

In addition, there is the possibility of the in the address field 2 a user-defined image file stored in an image database. This is done in an image file field 3 the file name of the corresponding image file, in the example shown, the file name "regdom.jpg" .To facilitate the entry of the corresponding image file name, the key 8th In this file selection dialog (not shown), the user can select a file from all image files stored in the image database and assign it to the address book entry.

Furthermore, with the address in a field 9 an image file priority value is stored. In the example shown, the image file regdom.jpg has the image file priority value 2 , Based on the image file priority value, it is determined at which scale the image content 7 the image file "regdom.jpg" is displayed.

By means of a button 4 In addition, two voice commands can be assigned to the address. By pressing the button 5 the address book entry is saved. By pressing the button 10 the address book entry can be discarded and the storage aborted.

In 2 is an example of the representation of a map 11 on the navigation system 1 shown. In the place of the address "Dom Sankt Peter, Domplatz 1 , Regensburg "becomes the picture content 7 , which is assigned to the address, in the card 11 appears. Besides, in the map 11 the route 12 and the current vehicle position 13 appears. The current vehicle position 13 is designed as a schematic arrow symbol in the example shown. Instead of such an arrow symbol, the current vehicle position can also be represented by a suitable vehicle icon, which, for example, is specifically matched to the respective vehicle type.

In addition, in the map 11 In addition to street elements also icons for points of interest (POI) 14 located. Depending on the configuration and scale, the selection of the POI icons displayed in the respective map display is shown 14 differently. The example shows pre-stored standard icons for restaurants, hotels and a hospital.

Claims (21)

Navigation device ( 1 ), comprising - an input device to which operator commands and / or location information, in particular start points and / or destination points, can be input, - a path network database, - a route calculation unit for the calculation a planned route taking into account the location information and the road network database, the route leading from the starting point to the destination point, - a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, in particular GPS signals, - a position determining unit which determines the current position from the position signals, - at least one optical Display device, characterized in that the navigation device ( 1 ) comprises an editable image database in which image files intended for display on the display device ( 7 ) can be managed user-defined. Navigation device according to claim 1, characterized in that the image database is part of an address database or can be linked to an address database, wherein individual addresses ( 2 ) the address database a user-defined image file ( 7 ) assigned. navigation device according to claim 2, characterized in that a plurality of addresses of the address database form an address group, with all addresses of the address group a custom image file is assigned. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that photographs, in particular photographs of buildings or persons, as image files ( 7 ) are stored in the image database. navigation device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that schematic image graphics (Icons) are stored as image files in the image database. Navigation device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the navigation device ( 1 ) comprises graphical display functions displayed on the display device, wherein individual display functions are associated with a user-defined image file, and when the display function is called, the associated image file ( 7 ) is shown. navigation device according to claim 6, characterized in that a graphic display function is provided for displaying the current position of a vehicle, being in a map shown with the display device the current position of the vehicle a custom image file, in particular a vehicle icon, can be displayed. navigation device according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the image files on a Removable storage medium, especially on a removable memory card, are stored. Method for operating a navigation device ( 1 ), an input device, at which operator commands and / or location information, in particular starting points and / or destination points, can be input, a route network database, a route calculation unit for calculating a planned route taking into account the location information and the road network database, the route from Starting point to the destination point leads - a signal receiving unit for receiving position signals, in particular GPS signals, - a position determination unit which determines the current position from the position signals, - at least one optical display device, characterized in that the user of the navigation device ( 1 ) an image file ( 7 ) stored in an editable image database of the navigation device and after calling the image file, the image content of the image file ( 7 ) is displayed on the display device. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the image database is part of an address database or can be linked to an address database, wherein individual addresses ( 2 ) the address database a user-defined image file ( 7 ) and wherein when a map section is displayed ( 11 ) on the display device which has an address ( 2 ) with associated image file ( 7 ), at the position of the address, the image content of the associated image file ( 7 ) is shown. A method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the image database is part of an address database or can be linked to an address database, wherein individual addresses ( 2 ) the address database a user-defined image file ( 7 ) and wherein, when a selection menu is displayed on the display device, that an address ( 2 ) with associated image file ( 7 ), at the position of the address the associated image file is displayed. Method according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that when editing an address to be stored in the address database ( 2 ) a list of available image files is displayed, whereby by selecting an image file ( 7 ) of the new address ( 2 ). Method according to one of Claims 9 to 12, characterized in that a display function associated with a user-defined image file is called program-controlled and then the image content of an image file assigned to the display function ( 7 ) is shown. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that on the display device a card ( 11 ) is displayed with the current position of a vehicle, wherein a user-defined vehicle icon is read from the image database and at the current position of the vehicle in the map ( 11 ) is shown. Method according to one of claims 9 to 14, characterized in that individual addresses ( 2 ) of the address database with associated image file ( 7 ) an image file priority value ( 9 ), wherein the representation of the displayed image file ( 7 ), in particular the image size of the displayed image file ( 7 ), depending on the scale of the map section and / or depending on the image file priority value is changed. Method according to one of claims 9 to 15, characterized in that the image files ( 7 ) are downloaded via a data connection from a database, in particular from an Internet server, to the navigation device and stored on the navigation device. Method according to one of claims 9 to 16, characterized in that a pre-stored in the Wegnetzdatenbank place, in particular a point of interest (POI), an image file ( 7 ). A method according to claim 17, characterized in that a pre-stored in the Wegnetzdatenbank place, in particular a point of interest (POI), as a new address ( 2 ) with simultaneous assignment of an image file ( 7 ) is stored in the address database. Method according to one of claims 9 to 18, characterized in that during storage and / or assignment of an image file ( 7 ) to an address ( 2 ) or a display function, the size of the image file ( 7 ) is checked programmatically. A method according to claim 19, characterized in that when exceeding a predefined maximum size, the storage and / or assignment of the image file ( 7 ) is excluded. A method according to claim 19, characterized in that when exceeding a predefined maximum size, the size of the image file ( 7 ), in particular by scaling, is automatically reduced.